North of Salem: The Ghost Twins of North Andover

Since it is the season of the Gemini (and I’m a Gemini), I started doing some research on ghost twins. Down the internet rabbit hole I went, and I’m glad I did. North Andover, Massachusetts encompasses the historic town of Andover and is just an hour(ish) drive north from Salem, home of The Witch Trials. Many argue Andover was overlooked by historians and that many of those accused of witchcraft in the region were actually from Andover. Salem State University historian Emerson “Tad” Baker says, “They should really be known as the Andover Witch Trials.”

The fear of witches in Andover sparked the most interesting (and problematic) urban legend. This is the story of the Albino Twins of North Andover.

Near Baker and Bradford Street in North Andover there is an abandoned road, which is the focus of local teenage curiosity. This road is now blocked by a gate with a large “Do Not Enter” sign. This road has been nicknamed “Albino Road” by locals.

During witch hysteria, a couple living on this road gave birth to albino twin boys, which was a sign of witchcraft (well, according to this legend). The couple decided to hide and protect their children from discrimination and persecution. Unfortunately, their existence was revealed in their teenage years and they had to undergo tests to determine if they were witches or not. This included being thrown into Lake Cochichewick to see if they would sink. The boys drowned, of course, because stones were tied to their feet. Their parents were burned alive when their house was set on fire.

The spirits of the boys and their parents now haunt the road…supposedly (I don’t believe it). I do wonder where such an urban legend came from. Was it from a fear of the unknown? Or from a fear of those different than us?